'Baby D' wants a better fit

CaptionThings are up in the air

Kenneth Silver, Daily Press

A very happy Dominik Davenport (62) of Phoebus tosses the ball to the sidelines after as he goes toward the bench area after taking a Woodrow Wilson punter Kristopher Garwood (87) gaffe into the end zone for a second quarter TD at Darling Stadium Friday night,

A very happy Dominik Davenport (62) of Phoebus tosses the ball to the sidelines after as he goes toward the bench area after taking a Woodrow Wilson punter Kristopher Garwood (87) gaffe into the end zone for a second quarter TD at Darling Stadium Friday night, (Kenneth Silver, Daily Press)

During his redshirt freshman season at West Virginia, Davenport took in the crowds at 60,000-seat Mountaineer Field. But he didn't hear anyone cheer for him.

So the thing he's most looking forward to at Old Dominion is seeing a packed house — with his helmet on.

"Being at West Virginia and seeing all those people kind of got me excited for this year, because I never really got to play in front of them," Davenport said. "So that's really what I'm waiting on, just being around a crowd with everybody hyped, a game atmosphere."

Davenport — a 6-foot-1, 265-pound defensive lineman better known as "Baby D" to teammates and fans — anchored Phoebus High's 2006 and 2008 Division 5 state champion teams and was an all-state selection in 2007 after making 124 tackles as a junior. During Davenport's four years, including a 2006 season when he played on both the defensive and offensive lines, the Phantoms went 52-3.

Davenport joined Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd and running back Shawne Alston in committing to West Virginia, where former Landstown High coach Chris Beatty was mining Tidewater talent. The trio proudly sported Mountaineers gear and planned their shared college future.

It didn't quite turn out like that. Alston remains at West Virginia, where he played in five games as a freshman, while Boyd de-committed from the Mountaineers in a recruiting saga that eventually ended at Clemson.

For his part, Davenport realized that the wait to play for West Virginia was too long.

"That's where I wanted to be at the time, but going up there and just sitting around, waiting, it kind of got out of hand," he said. "I figured coming closer to home would suit me."

At ODU, Davenport is reunited with former Phoebus teammates Reid Evans, who led ODU with 46 catches for 602 yards last season, and cornerback Markell Wilkins. Ex-Phoebus quarterback/defensive back Paul Morant and running back Colby Goodwyn will join the Monarchs in the fall.

Evans got a phone call from Davenport a while back, asking about ODU. Evans wasn't totally surprised to hear his high school buddy wasn't happy in Morgantown.

"He wasn't getting on the field," Evans said. "I know him. He's always on the field. I couldn't imagine him sitting out a year."

Along with the chance to play with his former high school teammates, Davenport chose to transfer to ODU because of the coaches, including defensive line coach Dealton Cotton, the former coach at Maury High. He's one of three transfers competing for a spot on the defensive line, including ex-Hofstra players Ronnie Cameron, a tackle, and end Deron Mayo from Kecoughtan High.

"We're still looking at him as a freshman, which he is," ODU coach Bobby Wilder said. "Just because he was at West Virginia doesn't mean that he's a good college football player. He hasn't played college football yet. We think he has the potential to be a good player, but this will be a challenge for him.

"He's got to fit in all over again. He was trying to do that at West Virginia. … He has not had an attitude of, 'Here I am, coming from Phoebus and West Virginia, go ahead and anoint me as the star of the defensive line.' He's made a very good impression so far on his teammates."

On Friday, the Monarchs ran drills for two hours in a rain-soaked first spring practice.

"Everybody's waiting to see what he's all about," Evans said. "When it comes Monday and Tuesday, when we've got the equipment on, people are really going to see. He's so big and he moves so quick and fast. ... He's got that energy. Like what Coach calls it — he's got that juice."

Davenport knows eyes will be on him at ODU.

"There's been a lot of talk about me coming here, but I just want to show everybody that I didn't take a step down," he said. "It's the same level of talent as on a D-I (team). It's the same as me being at West Virginia."

Except that, come fall, Davenport hopes the fans at Foreman Field — which he estimates will include at least 20 family members and friends — will be cheering for him.

"I know it's going to be amazing," he said. "I just can't wait till the day I finally get to play."